Non-citizens traveling to the U.S. on a visa waiver could be asked about their online presence and social media profiles — but not their account passwords — by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Though CBP already screens foreign travelers with in-person interviews and database checks, collecting social media accounts is specifically meant to track activity that could pose threats to “national security,” according to a proposal submitted by CBP and published in the Federal Register late last week.
“Collecting social media data will enhance the existing investigative process and provide DHS greater clarity and visibility to possible nefarious activity,” the proposal said.
The proposal indicates CBP recognizes the way individual attackers and extremist groups are using social media to spread terror. But some questioned whether it would be that effective, given visitors could choose to avoid divulging their social media handles.
FACEBOOK VOWS
Two recent mass shootings with connections to established terrorist groups – in San Bernardino and in Orlando, Fla. – were at the hands of killers adept at using social media. The California attackers whose shooting rampage killed 14 posted messages of support to Islamic State on their social media profiles. Omar Mateen, whose massacre at a Orlando night club killed 49, pledged support to ISIS on Facebook.
Twitter, Facebook and other social media services have been criticized for allowing terrorists to spread their message and influence others on their platforms. The family of a victim of the Paris terrorist attacks in November sued Facebook, Google and Twitter, claiming the companies allowed the Islamic State to spread propaganda to attract and train new recruits and celebrate attacks.
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The FBI reportedly asked pro hackers to crack San Bernardino iPhone
Facebook called the lawsuit without merit and said anyone can report terrorist accounts or content to the service. "We work aggressively to remove such content as soon as we become aware of it," a statement at the time read. Facebook did not respond to a request for comment for this article.
Twitter says users that promote terrorism are subject to permanent suspension from the platform.
"We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter Rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service," read a Twitter statement.
The government has already called upon Silicon Valley to do more to filter out terrorists. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced a bill in December which would require tech companies to report online terrorist activity to law enforcement.
"We're in a new age where terrorist groups like ISIL are using social media to reinvent how they recruit and plot attacks," Feinstein said in a press release at the time. "That information can be the key to identifying and stopping terrorist recruitment or a terrorist attack, but we need the help from technology companies."
